Bosses must act now and purge this bile from our game
“Decent fans are weary of this nonsense”
For Neil Doncaster and the SPFL, beneath the parapet is the safest place to be. It needs only two working ears and a pair of eyes to find evidence of the backward attitudes in Scottish football grounds.
Yet, to challenge or highlight them i s to risk i ntimidation, deflection and r a mpa n t ‘whataboutery.’
People offsetting the blindingly obvious by saying: ‘Never mind us, what about them?’
For the SPFL, then, adopting a ‘nothing-we- can- do,-guv’ stance has become a comfortable way of dealing with uncomfortable situations.
It’s inadequate, of course. rangers supporters rattled through some anti-Catholic ditties during the League Cup semi-final earlier this month, then again in Kirkcaldy last Friday. The SPFL could barely wash their hands of it all quickly enough.
Yet, as the r&A conceded when they ended 260 years of sexism by admitting women members, outdated attitudes can’t be overlooked forever — morally or commercially.
The SPFL currently has no major sponsor. And their chances of attracting one lessen every time they are lampooned publicly for adopting a hands-off approach to sectarianism or offensive and unacceptable behaviour.
Blue-chip multi-nationals are in no rush to throw millions of pounds at a competition that tolerates bigots and neds.
For Doncaster and the SPFL board, a flurry of statements in midweek were the first sign this issue has become toxic.
Few doubt they have a strong moral motivation for making a stance. But there are also very practical financial reasons why the SPFL must look again at ways to tackle a persistent scourge.
In the summer of 2013, clubs were given their first opportunity to make a stand on bigotry. The SFA proposed the adoption of UEFA and FIFA’s strict-liability standard.
Club chairmen would have been forced to take responsibility for the behaviour of morons in their stands. It could have cost them a few quid, a few points, possibly even a partially-closed stadium.
But they were asking turkeys to vote f or Christmas and t he proposals were kicked into the long grass.
This week, the SPFL have been shamed i nto thinking again. Decent supporters are weary of this nonsense, and commercial partners will want nothing to do with a competition which turns a blind eye to knuckle-draggers.
To key backers like BT Sport — dragged into a row between rangers fans and pundit Stan Collymore — it must feel like Scottish football is currently doing them few favours.
When the current contract is up for renewal there will be calls for the broadcasters to give Scottish football a fairer deal, reflecting the riches paid to clubs down south.
When their commentators are forced to spend time apologising for lewd, moronic or racist abuse at Scottish games, that is a hard argument to win.
Strict liability is being held up as a cure-all panacea and that is hopelessly naive.
Some of the away supporters who follow Scottish clubs around don’t much care for punishment and authority. They do what they like because they don’t especially care if their club is hit with a fine.
Before facing Inter Milan, Celtic were fined by UEFA for an eighth time in eight years after flares were ignited in the last Europa League game in Zagreb in December. A club statement and head coach ronny Deila asked fans to self-police in Italy. To stop the people harming the club they claim to love.
The response was something approaching contempt, with three different flares mentioned in UEFA delegate Alvaro Albino’s report.
The result is yet another UEFA disciplinary hearing on March 19 and yet another punishment.
Celtic supporters argue flares are nowhere near as serious as persistent sectarian or illicit chanting. But it all stems from the same defiant, loutish attitude which revels in sticking up two fingers to the football authorities.
For that reason, strict liability may not be the solution many think it is. For years, UEFA have hammered clubs like Celtic for the behaviour of some fans. And still a small number of idiots continue to misbehave.
Nevertheless, the SFA and SPFL must now try something.
The right reasons to stop discriminatory, offensive and anti-social behaviour are simple.
It’s wrong and an ongoing, anachronistic embarrassment to Scottish football.
The likelihood is, however, the chairmen will be forced to act for another reason. Bluntly, it’ s box-office poison.
But in the corridors of Scottish football power, money has always been a greater motivational tool than morality.